Press Release

Immigration Expert Elizabeth R. Blandon to Brief DNC Committee on a U.S. Supreme Court Case Affecting 3.7 Million People

On Monday, April 18, board-certified immigration attorney Elizabeth R. Blandon will brief the Democratic Womenís Alliance in a national conference call from her Weston, FL, office to inform the DNCís women community about the importance of United States v. Texas.

Weston, FL, April 17, 2016 --(PR.com)-- On Monday, April 18, the United States Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the case United States v. Texas which challenges the legality of some of President Barak Obama’s executive actions on immigration – the expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA).

While the oral arguments are being heard in Washington, D.C., Board-certified immigration attorney Elizabeth R. Blandon will brief the Democratic Women’s Alliance in a national conference call from her Weston, FL, office to inform the DNC’s women community about the importance of United States v. Texas. Additionally, Ms. Blandon will advise the group on the possible outcomes after the Supreme Court renders its opinion, which could come as early as June 2016.

“As a representative of both families and companies who employ foreign nationals, I can see the potential impact of the Supreme Court’s ruling on families and businesses in South Florida and throughout the country,” Ms. Blandon said. “If the Supreme Court upholds the President’s executive actions, parents of U.S. citizen children who are affected by the ruling will be able to work legally, put food on the table. Upholding the President’s actions will also have a positive economic impact, enabling companies throughout the nation to legally hire hard-working individuals who desire to support their families. It is estimated that an expanded DACA and DAPA will allow qualified individuals to earn an additional $7.1 billion dollars in income.”

The final ruling, which is expected as early as June, affects 3.7 million undocumented immigrants who could be protected from removal from the U.S. under the DACA and DAPA. DACA is an initiative launched by the Department of Homeland Security in 2012 and has since helped more than 700,000 eligible young adults to move into mainstream life in the United States.

The case was brought before the Supreme Court after the President announced on Nov. 20, 2014, an expanded DACA, which eliminated an age ceiling and made individuals who began residing in the U.S. before Jan. 1, 2010, eligible for temporary relief from deportation. Many of the individuals affected by the new initiative work in the construction, agricultural and other industries. The Migration Policy Institute estimates that approximately 253,000 parents of children living in Florida will be affected by the Supreme Court’s final decision.

The President’s executive actions are based on immigration enforcement priorities. The DAPA and DACA initiatives allow law enforcement officials to focus their attention on public safety risks, while allowing noncitizens with significant family and community ties to the United States to obtain temporary, renewable deferrals of deportation. To qualify to stay in the U.S., individuals will need to meet a several requirements and pass a criminal background check.

Soon after the President’s announcement, Texas and 25 other states filed a lawsuit in federal district court in the Southern District of Texas to try to block the implementation of expanded DAPA and DACA.

The district court judge issued a preliminary injunction that temporarily blocked the implementation of expanded DACA and DAPA initiatives and prohibited the government from taking further steps to implement these initiatives. The government appealed the decision to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which granted a preliminary injunction on Nov. 9, 2015. The Department of Justice filed a formal request for the Supreme Court to review the decision, which it agreed to accept on Jan. 19, 2016, and set oral arguments for Monday, April 18.

The Supreme Court will consider whether the states in United States v. Texas have standing, or a legal capacity, to bring the lawsuit. In addition, the Supreme Court may consider whether expanded DACA and DAPA are lawful, or whether they violate the Constitution or the Administrative Procedures Act.

During the conference call on Monday, Ms. Blandon will provide a background for the President’s executive actions, explain how they impact current immigration policy, and explain the possible outcomes of the Supreme Court’s ruling.

Ms. Blandon is listed by The Miami Herald as one of the top-rated South Florida immigration attorneys in 2015. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School, Ms. Blandon is Board Certified as an expert in Immigration and Nationality law. This certification is the highest level of recognition of the competency and experience of attorneys awarded by The Florida Bar, the association of the state’s attorneys. Her professional peers through the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating System rated Ms. Blandon AV. This review reflects the confidential opinions of members of both the judiciary and the bar who are familiar with the lawyer’s legal ability and adherence to the highest level of professional ethics.

She is a member of AILA, the American Immigration Lawyers Association – the professional bar association for attorneys who specialize in immigration law. During her career, Ms. Blandon has received appointments by the South Florida chapter of AILA to the Asylum Committee and the Congressional Liaison Committee.